Manchester United wins Champions League final

Manchester United is king of Champions League and the best team in Europe.

The Red Devils edged Chelsea in a shootout 6-5 after playing to a 1-1 tie in regulation and overtime in the first all-English final in tournament history.

Cristiano Ronaldo put Man U ahead in the 26th minute, but Frank Lampard evened the score in first-half stoppage time to set up the shootout from the penalty-kick spot after an ensuing 85-minute stalemate in Moscow.

Man U’s Van der Sar saved Anelka’s shot to end things and let Giggs’ score stand as the winner. Ronaldo and John Terry also missed kicks for the Devils and Blues, respectively.

For the most part, it was a terrible match. Teams started off awfully apprehensive, and the second half proved just as rough with the score tied.

But as terrible as it was, it was also dramatic.

From the slick field and the rain to the cramping that struck players from both sides like a plague in the latter stages of the second half and overtime to the red card to Didier Drogba in the 117th minute to, of course, the heart-stopping shootout.

Overall, Chelsea deserved better. Twice the Blues struck the woodwork in the second half.

But it is Man U and Sir Alex Ferguson celebrating in Moscow.

John Terry’s tears after it was over said it all: Shootouts are just plain cruel. But that’s soccer, a crude blend of beautiful and cruel.

Here’s how the shootout went:

Man U: Tevez, in

Chelsea: Ballack, in

Man U: Carrick, in

Chelsea: Belletti in

Man U: Ronaldo, saved

Chelsea: Lampard, in

Man U: Hargreaves, in

Chelsea: Cole, in

Man U: Nani, in

Chelsea: Terry, post

Man U: Anderson, in

Chelsea: Kalou, in

Man U: Giggs, in

Chelsea: Anelka, saved.

What’s your take on the match? Did Chelsea deserve better? Where are all the Man U fans at?